Hey again! :D Here's an extra long chapter for everyone!

There has to be a mistake! I gaze down at my school uniform. The shirt says it's a small. The same fate befell the skirt. My socks are way too long! How could this happen?

"OKAA-SAN!" I screech and run out of the room, raging.

My mother is sitting on a bar stool staring at the stove with coffee in hand. "Please don't yell. I have a hangover."

I shake my head. 'I can believe she was drunk painting last night.' I sit down in the stool next to her, calming down, but only slightly. "Mother, did you make an error on some of my orders for school?"

"No." She takes a sip of coffee, still staring at the stove. I can see the slight smirk play her lips. I wish I could yell at her, but arguing with her is like trying to win a sand fight with a sandstorm.

Instead of saying something, I stalk off to my room, dreading putting on the clothes.

I step out of the apartment thankful that I have a jacket to pull over my shirt. I have to wear an undershirt because when I raise my hand up the shirt pulls up too, and shorts under my skirt because I do not want boys looking up it when I walk upstairs or the wind blows. Sadly, I could do nothing with the long socks! They go all the way up to my knees!

When I make it to the third floor, I see Naruto locking up his door. I tilt my head, not hearing anyone call after him as he leaves. Before I can move down the stairs, Naruto notices me and waves, shouting in his usual obnoxious voice, "Hotaru! Let's walk together!"

I purse my lips, but wait for the loud-mouth. I don't know how he does it, but he seems to genuinely care about me already. "Why do you have a jacket on? It's going to get really hot! Whoa! What do you have in there? Is it a dog?" Naruto points to my chest.

I feel my eye twitch. "No, Naruto. I am not a nin-dog user," I tell him with acid dripping off my tongue. If he makes another comment…

"Oh, well, it would have been so cool if you were! You and Kiba would both have cute little puppies I could pet! Believe it!" Naruto gives me another broad smile, making me feel like I should smile with him but, I do not.

It takes us fifteen minutes to get to the main road. We round the corner to be met by two boys.

One has his onyx hair tied up into a high ponytail with a bored expression on. His face is turned up to the inky white, blue sky. His clothes are wrinkled and his tie looks half-way tied. His pants sag because it seems that he is not wearing a belt, like the dress code has instructed boys to do so.

The other is a chubbier, auburn-haired boy. He has red swirls on his cheeks near his jaw bone and a bag of chips in his hands.

I am tempted to ask if it is salt and vinegar flavor, but the pony tail boy speaks up before I can open my mouth. "Who are you?"

I want to fall into a hole as both of the new boys look me up and down. "I am Yuu Hotaru. I was born here, but, when my father was killed, my mother and I moved to Suna."

"That's what I thought. It explains why you're so tan." Pony-Tail's eyes do not leave the sky to give me this statement. I scratch my arm in embarrassment. Is it bad to be so tan here? What if everyone shuns me because of it?

"You know it is rude not to introduce yourself first before asking for someone's name." I tell him as we continue to walk to the middle of the city.

"Troublesome…," he mutters to himself, and then turns to me lazily. "My name is Nara Shikamaru. This here is Akimichi Chouji." He waves his hands in the general area Chouji is eating. He gives me a nice smile before shoving another chip in his mouth.

"Douzo Yoroshiku." I bow to the two boys.

"Are you always this formal?" Shikamaru asks.

I raise an eyebrow and mutter, "Hai."

"Troublesome."

I open my mouth to make a comment about it being the right thing to do, when Kiba runs up with his dog in his book bag and shouts, "HEY! What's up guys?" Kiba looks over to me. I'm on the far side of Naruto away from the others. Kiba walks next to Shikamaru. "Don't you look hot today?"

My eyes widen when I look down at my jacket noticing that the opening has become wider than I wanted it to. It shows off everything! I quickly pull the sides closed again, feeling insecure.

"SO IT WASN'T A PUPPY!" Naruto screams and stops in the middle of the road pointing to my chest a second time in the hour. His eyes widen in realization. The boys laugh when Naruto begins to blush, turning away.

In my horror, I do not watch where I am walking and my shoe gets caught on a rock. I tumble down towards Earth. Before I notice what is actually happening, my arm collides with the dirt and with it my head hits my arm hard.

All the boys try to stifle their laughter, but they cannot hold it in. Kiba is the first to break, "Ah! THAT IS—" He can't even finish what he is saying because he is laughing again.

I quickly get up. With tears stinging my eyes, I race to a group of students just ahead.

Once I make it to the middle of the mass of students, I brush myself off, thanking Kami that I had my jacket on. I do not want to get my shirt dirty. The worst that came out of the fall is my knees are a little scraped, but they're not bleeding.

I stand in the group trying to look normal, but it is hard to when you have flaming red hair and the jacket you're wearing is not baggy enough to hide your features.

"Hey, boys, look at this one! She has to be new," I hear someone whisper to others in his group. I close my eyes, willing myself to disappear or have them just look past me. Though, deep down, I know they won't leave. They never leave me alone once they see me.

But, life is not fair and two boys flanked me while the leader bends over to look me in the eyes.

"Hello."

I don't respond and look around him, acting as if I could care less about his presence.

I will say this boy is not bad looking at all. He has jet black hair, which is parted in the middle, with matching dark eyes. He appears to have broad shoulders and a cocky attitude. He is not someone I would ever be interested in.

"Would you like me to show you around the school?" he inquires. "I've been here a little while, so I know my way around here, and a little girl… well, not really little…"

He trails off, looking down my jacket. My eyebrows furrow. "No. I would rather be lost than be guided around by the likes of you." As I say this the gates open, letting us in. I push past the older ninja students, trying not to hurt them or make them any angrier.

"Don't you want to know my name?"

I ignore him and walk even faster. I look up at the school and find that it is like a mansion. It looks like it has at least two stories maybe more in different sections. It's much larger than my old school in Suna. Then again, the school was made out of sand and was not that sturdy, but this school looks to be built with different shades of stone. Some large rocks and some small rocks make up a mosaic like pattern on the side of the building.

I push open the double doors and see the administration office right away. I go straight to the door trying to ignore the growing fear that climbs up my toes and coils in my stomach, much like a snake.

How am I going to get through this school year? Yes, I can probably keep my grades up here because I don't believe their curriculum is that much different from Suna's, besides the weapon-based jutsu training. Yet, there are so many boys here! I am only used to Kankuro's and Gaara's presence, and only the former talked excessively. It took me a very long to adjust to it, too.

"You know Hotaru, you look really good today. The tan you got over break brings out your hair." Kankuro grins at me as he walks me home. Ever since we met in History he's been doing that. At first, I hated it because I felt as if he thought I was inferior to him, but he explained that's what nice guys do for girls to keep them out of trouble. I had told him to get lost because I didn't need his help, but he still came.

I sigh and finally smile.

"Thank you, Kankuro. You look great in your usual boiling black suit." He grins and I look away sheepishly. After a few seconds, he pulls me into something he calls a "bear hug."

"Finally! After three weeks! You finally say something that isn't a put down to me!" he whispers into my hair.

I smile. I even laugh.

"Hai, hai. I know. Now, to continue with this cheerful atmosphere, tell me about your day." We veer off the main road towards a deserted park. We come to a park bench that overlooks the swings and sit down. I lean back onto the back of the bench, reveling the afternoon sun. Kankuro puts his arms on the back of the bench, touching my shoulders and back. For once I don't mind and Kankuro seems happy that I don't.

He goes on to explain his adventures and misadventures of his day. Most of them, I believe, he embellished to get me to laugh. I let myself relax and laugh at the silly jokes he makes.

"Even though my whole day was pretty fun, I still have to say, walking home with you has been the favorite part of my day!"

"I would never guess that. Your day seemed so exciting!" He smiles at me, putting a hand on my head.

"You're so naïve. Being with you is always more exciting and… I don't know." He taps his chin trying to think of the word, " New."

I give him a confused glance. "You like that I'm super smart and hate talking to immature people like yourself?" I raise an eyebrow, questioning his motives.

He chuckles, "Yes, I love that about you. I'm just glad you finally warmed up to me."

"I am too." I smile. I open my arms to give him a hug on my own accord, but get an unexpected kiss on the forehead too.

As time went on we became more of friends than comrades. This in turn helped me become friends with Temari and ultimately closer to Gaara.

I push open the door, feeling the coils of fear tightening. I find a stunning black haired man listening to music as he twirls around in his chair. He hardly looks older than Temari does! How can he be working in the office already? After watching him rotate a couple of times, he finally stops and acknowledges me.

He smirks as my eyes widen, knowing I had been caught staring at him. "May I help you?"

I blink trying to tear my eyes away from his onyx ones. "I…Ah…Needaschedule!" I blurt out, wanting to scrunch up into nothingness. I walk up to the desk, feigning confidence with a smile. I hand him my papers. My hands tremble and I curse myself for being so nervous.

He looks at them and his grin broadens. "Ah, you're the new wave that's hitting the school. I guess some of the kunoichi here will have some competition for the top spot now. It seems that you've gotten high scores in all of your classes."

I smile meekly, trying to stay humble. "Will I be seeing you around the school besides here?" He hands me my locker combination, along with my schedule, with a wink.

"I have no doubt you will be seeing me again."

I bow and leave the room. I am met with a crowded hallway, students throwing papers and a sensei yelling at them. This is nothing like Suna's school. All of the students were orderly in the hallway and never threw anything at each other, besides kunai, and that was on the training field.

I look down at my schedule and see:

First Hour — Forgery; Hatake (Room E45)

Second Hour — Calculations of Various Topics; Morino (Room M65)

Third Hour — Physiology; Yamanaka (Room M45)

Lunch

Fourth Hour — Seduction Techniques; Yūhi (Room S69)

Fifth & Sixth Hour — Meet in Gym

I sigh and try to find the hallway that has the letter E written on it because that's what the guide book told me to do. A school with a guide book…who would have known.

I walk into my forgery class and find that it is filled with mostly people who seem to be about my age, which seems to be not the greatest thing.

"Oi! Face Plant!" I blush at the new nickname the dog-nin gives me. It wasn't my fault I fell. If they hadn't been distracting me it would have never happened!

"Kiba! Leave her alone!" A blond haired girl growls at him, walking from her seat to my side at the door. She smiles down at me, putting a hand on my shoulder.

Her hair is in a high pony tail with some bangs covering her face. She has the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. The only problem I have with her is that she seems like a girl that would care more about looks and things of that sort than her kunoichi training.

"Don't mind him, ne? He's one of those loud mouth guys that picks on everyone. I can't believe we dated when we were like eight."

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from screaming at her. She was dating at eight? Shouldn't she have been focused on basic training then and not boys?

"Anyway! I'm Yamanaka Ino! What's your name?"

I smile at her hesitantly. "My name is—" The bell rings signaling class to begin. I look around for the teacher, fearing that I could get reprimanded for being out of my seat. "Shouldn't we sit down before Hatake-sensei gets here?"

She gives me a knowing, smile and giggles a little. "You mean Kakashi? Oh, he's always late, so you have nothing to worry about!"

I frown at the statement. Isn't the sensei supposed to be an example for the pupil? He should be here much earlier than we are! I don't even like this sensei and I haven't even met him!

"Are you going to tell me your name or what?" Ino puts her manicured hands on her hips, raising her eyebrow at me.

I look at the door, scared that Hatake-sensei could walk in when I begin to talk, but I still take the risk, "My name is Yuu Hotaru." I cover up my fear with the brightest smile I can muster. I need a friend. Focused or not.

"What a pretty name! You have such gorgeous hair! And you have boobs too!" Ino's eyes narrow in jealousy and cross my arms over my chest, hating her staring at them. "Oh, don't hide 'em girl! You gotta flaunt them!" She grabs my wrist and pulls me over to some desk near the window. There are two other girls sitting next to Ino's empty spot.

One girl is staring out the window while the other reads. The former has dark blue hair cut short with two strands in front longer. She seems to be ignoring everything to day dream.

The other girl has flamingo pink hair that flows down to her mid back. She seems a lot like Ino, but a bit more studious than she. She holds her head up with her hand on her ear and her elbow on the edge of the desk.

"Hotaru, these are my two friends." Ino points over to the day dreaming girl. "That's Hyuuga Hinata. She's really quiet and stutters a lot, but she's a real good friend." She moves her hand to point to the reading girl. "That's Haruno Sakura. She's a bit of a bookworm and a nerd, but she has a fiery temper, so watch out for that."

Ino sits down next to Sakura. I stand, stranded, in the aisle way not knowing what to do. "C'mon, you can sit with us." Ino motions to the open seat next to her.

"Are you sure? I don't want to take anyone's seat…" I trail off, feeling eyes on my back. I turn my head around to find a couple of boys staring at me. I scratch my arm and swiftly take my seat.

"Ino-pig, you're not going to turn her into a Barbie are you?" Sakura looks up from her book and then at me with some concern.

Barbie?

"Well, I'll only do that if she wants me to." Ino looks at Sakura with a glare, but it quickly changes when she looks at me. She gives me a hopeful smile.

"Leave her alone. She doesn't seem like a girl to wear ribbons anyway." Sakura looks me up and down, making me want to slouch and hide. Her gaze seems so hostile when she says ribbons.

I give her a sheepish smile. "No, I'm not really. I was taught to use them to strangle targets, not to just wear them."

Sakura waves her hand at me. "See there you have it. No experiment for you."

"Shut it, Billboard Brow!" Ino growls, turning red in the face.

I begin to frown at their argument because it is a very childish one. They keep throwing insults at each other…

I nearly jump out of my seat when something hits my head. I whip around and find a row of boys laughing at me. I look down to find a paper ball laying at the edge of my seat. Naruto seems to be the one laughing the hardest, so I glare at him when I speak, "Why are you being so childish, Naruto? You should know that a simple paper ball is going to do no damage to me. If you were trying to injure me you should have at least used a pencil." Naruto blinks at me as if I spoke a total foreign language at him. I hear snickering behind me, so I look to find Ino and Sakura stifling snickers. "What? Is there another reason why he would throw a paper ball at me?"

A poof of smoke brings forth a voice with the answer to my question, "Yes, there is. And he is getting a three day detention for it."

I find that the man who created the puff of smoke is very handsome. He has spiked silver hair and dark lazy eyes. His nose and mouth are covered up by what seems to be a blue mask. His left eye is covered by his Leaf headband. Curious, I wonder why that eye is covered.

"But Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto jumps up from his seat. "Kiba did it anyway! And it's only a piece of paper! It wouldn't of killed her!"

I look to see Kiba glaring at the blonde. I feel my mouth tug, but dismiss the feeling to smile.

"I do not want to hear that right now," he waves his hand, lazily dismissing Naruto, who huffs as he sits back down. "Now, who the hell are you?"

I look at him confused and shocked. I have never known a sensei to swear before, let alone not know that they have a new student. My shock turns to anger in a second and I glare at the lazy teacher. "Aren't you the one with the student list?" I hear some muffled giggles from my peers.

He shrugs. "I don't want to look for it. And it is so much easier if you just introduce yourself." He gives me a lazy expression as he meanders over to his desk. He sits down in his chair and leans back, putting his feet up on his desk.

I scratch my arm as I stand up. "Ah, my name is Yuu Hotaru. I am twelve years of age. I plan on becoming a Jōnin kunoichi. I was born in Konoha, but moved because of, um, family problems when I was still a baby. I've spent my whole life in Suna. I moved back here because my mother was given a job and I felt this ninja program fit me better. Ah, Hatake-sensei is that all I have to say?" I nervously look up from the desk, feeling the stares of everyone in the room on me.

Is there something on my face? Are they staring at my chest because this shirt is too small?

I blink a few times and squint to see the title of the book he is so intently reading. 'Icha Icha Paradise?' Isn't that a…

"Wha-what are you reading?" I squeak out as my eyes widen. I point at the book, hoping that it isn't true. The class bursts out in a fit of laughter upon my question.

"What, this?" He turns the book over to look at the cover as if it isn't what it is!

"Yes! That!"

"Oh, it's just some light re—"

"PORN!" A boy shouts out. I look across the room to the boys to find Kiba holding his sides along with Naruto as he points to the orange book.

My mouth hangs open as I try to comprehend what is happening.

A teacher reading a porn book during school! This cannot be happening!

I sit down in my seat still wide eyed. After a moment, I look over to Ino for support, but I only find that she too is laughing at my discovery. "I am so—so—so-!" She can't finish her sentence because she is caught by laughter once more.

I put my head on the table, trying to hide my utter embarrassment at the situation. I should not have said anything! Now, I have drawn a lot more attention to myself than I had too!

I feel a hand on my back. I look up to find Ino wiping tears from her eyes. "Don't worry about it. We were pretty freaked out when we first saw it."

I smile at her, reassuring her that I am doing fine now.

Until the final bell, I flip through the book, half listening to what Ino and Sakura talk about. I slip out of the class unnoticed and travel to my locker, trying my hardest not to be noticed. Yet, that is near impossible for me because I have fire red hair inherited from my father.

I get lost only once trying to find the maroon locker. I dig through my skirt pocket to find my locker combination. I twist the dial quickly, but precisely, so I am not late for class.

I try two times to force the locker open, but it does not budge an inch. For the third try I throw my books to the ground in a huff. 'How can this locker do this to me? I will ruin my perfect attendance on the first day!'

"Hey, little miss!" I look behind me over my shoulder to find a tall boy with spiked brown hair, waving at me. I stop straight away, wondering if he's like the other boys that had bothered me. I pick up my Forgery book, quickly, to cover my chest. "Can I help you with that?"

"Um, I-I can do it myself." I nod my head and turn back to the locker.

"Are you sure?" He reaches for the lock, but I move my body to block his hand. It hits my arm and I feel tingles run up and down it. He chuckles at my actions and backs away.

I look at the paper one more time and turn the dial to the exact numbers. I lift the handle, but yet again the door goes nowhere. I sigh in defeat and move away from the locker. The boy takes the door handle and jiggles it three times and the locker swings open, slamming into the locker beside it.

"How…?" I look up at him, flabbergasted. How could he have known?

He smiles and messes up my hair with his hand. I put it back into place as he speaks, "About when I was your age I had the same locker and an older girl came up to me and helped me with it. I hope you keep up the tradition."

I smile up at him and bite my lip like Temari told me to. "Can I have my knight in shining armor's name?" I want to gag at how incredibly stupid I most definitely sound right now.

He chuckles and I watch his eyes sparkle, making my stomach tingle. "You're cute. My name's Shibire."

I push my Forgery book to the top self where it, undoubtedly, will collect dust for the rest of the marking period. "My name is Hotaru. Um, where are you headed?"

I couldn't believe myself! I am actually making conversation with someone I hardly know! "I'm off to my Advanced Calculations in the Field. Can I walk you to class?" I look to my right and find the door I needed.

I giggle much like a school girl and answer. "You already did."

For a moment he seems confused, but then catches on and laughs himself. "Oh, geez, you have to be pretty good at mathematics to be in Ibiki's class."

The two minute bell rings and I scratch my arm. "I've really always have been good at mathematics. It is the same everywhere."

He waves goodbye without another word and I walk into class to find Sakura and Shikamaru sharing a table.

"Ah! Hotaru! Come sit with us." Sakura waves over and I scurry to get the seat, not wanting the empty seat next to a burly looking, brown haired boy, or man. I cannot really tell what I should call him.

Shikamaru looks up from his arms and narrows his eyes at me. "Why are you blushing, Face Plant?"

I feel my face heat up even more and I am at a loss of words. "Oh, leave her alone, Ponytail!" Sakura hits Shikamaru's arm, playfully.

"Ponytail?" I tilt my head a bit confused.

"Troublesome." Shikamaru puts his head back down.

Sakura shakes her head, dismissing my question. "He sleeps through class, but still is at the top! I have no idea how he does it!"

I look back at him wonder too how he does it. I may have a natural talent at mathematics, but I still need to pay attention in class.

"Are you Yuu Hotaru?" Hands grip my shoulders roughly. I let out a squeak and my eyes go wide. What is going on?

"Ha-hai!" I manage to get out. I don't dare to look up at the man. I do not want to make him mad!

"Speak up!" he bellows.

"HAI! That is me, sir!" I yell back, trying not to stutter once more. He let's go of my shoulders and steps in front of Sakura. He bends down and stares me in the eyes. My heart rate skyrockets and I wonder what he's trying to do to me. Is he trying to frighten me out of class or something else?

"Ibiki-sensei, you're going to make her piss her pants! Just leave her alone, she's new!" I look over Morino-sensei's right shoulder to find a blue haired, sea green eyed boy, smirking over to me. I find that my cheeks flare up with heat once more.

With this comment, Morino-sensei's face turns into a broad grin. He slaps my shoulder much like a father to his son. "Welcome to Calculations of Various Topics for the fast learners! I am pleased to have you in my class, Yuu-san." He walks up to the board and as he begins to write becomes serious once more. "Flip to page 146."

"Don't worry, Hotaru, he did something like that to us the first day. He's the head of the interrogation unit, you know?"

I gulp, hoping that the rest of my day isn't spent taking almost an hour of tedious notes and barely getting the homework before the bell rings.

Sakura, Pony Tail, and I walk out of the class room to be met by Ino. She looks quite aggravated with her eyebrows raised and her hand on her hip. "Hotaru! I thought you would be with me in Seduction!"

I shake my head. "I have that next period."

Pony Tail falls in line next to Ino on the far side. Sakura pokes my side, causing me to jump a little bit. "Hey! I have that too! Don't worry we haven't gotten into anything really gross yet!" She smiles happily.

The four of us walk through the hallways. Sakura points out random boys as we go. Most of them are older and do not pay attention to us. "That's Tanzo. Stay away from him. He may look hot, but he's rumored to have raped like four girls!" Sakura whispers to me. I look over to the boy she is talking about and find that he is the older boy form earlier today.

"Hey! Little lady! Ditch those newbies and come hang with me!" he calls, waving his hand for me to come over.

"Hotaru! Did you talk to him?" Ino hisses at me.

I feel my eyes widen at the hostility in her voice, "Wha—NO! He talked to me when I first arrived! I-I ran away as soon as I could!"

"Ino, cool your jets. She's new and seems a bit shy. Why would she go after a troublesome guy like that?" Pony Tail sighs, returning his gaze to the ceiling.

Ino lets out an exhausted sigh. "Whatever Shikamaru." She folds her hands over her chest and continues to lead the group. I wonder why she is so mad about him talking to me. Does she like him? Why would she ever like a guy that's apparently raped four girls?

"This is where we eat. It's called 'the Caf.'" Ino points to a pair of double doors. Both have long rectangular windows running down the inner side to see into the lunch room.

"Calf? Ino, that's a baby-" I begin, but she shoots me a look and I hush myself. We never had a lunch room in Suna. We ate in the class rooms.

Sakura pats me on the back. "She doesn't like people questioning her, so don't take it to heart."

I nod my head as Ino pulls back both doors and reveals the whole group to 'the Caf.' The whole room is completely noisy for a second and then quiets as soon as someone takes a look at me. Then the room erupts in noise once again.

I wish I had my jacket! Why did I put it in my locker? I wish I could disappear!

We walk over to the lunch line and I hear some of what people are saying about me already.

"I heard she and Tanzo are going out!"

"What a slut!"

"Kami! Look at her boobs! Their almost bigger than Anko's!"

"Man, what I would pay to get her in bed!"

I feel my face heat up. Why are they talking about me like that? They don't know me!

"Ramen or Udon?" A kind woman breaks me from my thoughts, pointing to the two choices today.

"Ah, ramen please." I smile at her as she ladles the noodles into my bowl. "Arigato."

I grab a fruit bowl and look around for the three others in my group. "Hotaru!" I find Sakura waving at me from the exit.

I scurry over, trying to not listen to anything anyone is say. "I thought we couldn't eat outside," I whisper.

"We aren't," Sakura smiles and I find myself a bit hesitant to follow my new friend. "Don't worry. We've been doing this all year and no one has said anything."

I bite my lip, weighing my options. If she says they haven't been caught yet, there is a slim chance that it would happen now with me, but then what if my being there throws off everything?

But before I can decide not to go, Sakura rolls her eyes and grabs my wrist. "C'mon!"

Sakura pulls me towards a large tree that shades eight other people. "This is the Rookie Nine, but with you here I think it could turn into the Rookie Ten," she winks at me. "Not that that makes any sense for the teams of three, but I don't think anyone will really care," she adds quickly.

When we approach, the whole group looks at me and I feel terribly self-conscious. Most of the group is made up of a variety of boys and I feel my cheeks heat up. They're all good looking. And they're all staring at me…

"Sakura-chan! Why did you bring Face Plant?" Naruto flashes me a smile and I glare at him. Why did he have to mention the name again?

"Naruto! You baka! Leave Hotaru alone!" Sakura flies over to the blonde and whacks him on the head.

"Oi! Sakura-chan! That hurt!"

"Dobe, I think it was supposed to." A raven haired boy looks up from his obento and gives Naruto a smirk. I begin to feel somewhat awkward standing, until the raven haired boy looks up. Then I feel completely embarrassed. "You can sit wherever you want to... Hotaru, right?"

I give him a small smile and sit down where I was standing. I begin to eat my noodles in silence until the blonde speaks up once again. "Hotaru! You like ramen too?"

I look up from my bowl with my chopsticks in hand at the boy. "Naruto, will you shut up. It is completely troublesome watching clouds and listening to you."

"Shut up, Shikamaru! Just because you can't understand how awesome ramen is doesn't mean you have to rain on the parade!" He glares at Pony Tail, who is in the edge of the shade of the tree watching the clouds with Chouji, and then turns back to me with wide eyes, waiting for my answer.

I shrug. "It's alright. I would never eat it all the time because I would get out of shape."

Naruto's mouth drops open. He fish-mouths for a couple moments, before the raven haired boy begins laughing. "See Naruto, even the new girl thinks more than you do!"

"Shut up, Sasuke-teme!"

Sasuke rolls his eyes at the blonde and smiles back at me. "Ignore him. He's always this loud."

"Do you have an older brother?" I question out of the blue, suddenly noticing the similarities of Sasuke and the man who was in the administration office.

Sasuke's mood deteriorates quickly. "Why do you want to know? Do you want some of his clothes or something?" he practically growls at me.

I look at him, eyebrows furrowed and taken aback. "Of course not! I only say a man that looked vaguely like you in the administration office."

He blinks at me for a moment, before shaking his head. "Sorry about that. Most girls talk to me to get to my brother."

"That is so not true Sasuke-kun!" Sakura looks away from Ino, who she was having a conversation with, and smiles at Sasuke. "They talk to you because of your personality."

"What personality?" Naruto snickers.

Sakura throws a chopstick at Naruto, hitting him in the head. I smile only a little bit, but then take another chopstick full of ramen. "Shit! Hotaru I totally forgot to introduce you to everyone. Wow, I am such a terrible friend." Sakura shakes her head.

"No, it is alright. I gather information pretty well." I give her a small smile, but she waves her hand.

"Won't be needed. You seem to know who Naruto is." I nod my head. "He's one of the loud-mouths of the group and has a very weird obsession with ramen and becoming Hokage." I frown a bit, wondering how this obnoxious boy could ever become Hokage, but before I can speculate anymore, Sakura points to Sasuke. "That is Uchiha Sasuke. He is the most popular of the rookies for his drop dead good looks. He is also at the top for ninja skills." I raise an eyebrow curious at the tone she's using. She coughs a little with a faint blush on her cheeks. I am surprised that Sasuke said nothing because he seemed to be listening intently to what Sakura was saying about him. "That's Inuzuka Kiba and his dog Akamaru. That's our other loud-mouth."

"Hey! I am not that loud! Not as loud as Naruto, anyway," Kiba huffs and a bark sounds as if in agreement. "See? Akamaru thinks the same." My eyes widen when I see the dog pop its head out of the book bag lying next to Kiba.

"You have a dog at school?" I know I thought I saw it before, but I didn't think he would bring it to school!

Kiba looks at me as if it is yesterday's news. "Akamaru comes with me everywhere! He's quiet during school, so there's nothing your pretty little head needs to worry about."

I narrow my eyes at the smirk he gives me. Sakura, sensing the building hostility, moves on. "Next to him is Aburame Shino, he uses bugs for his ninjutsu. And the creepiest thing is they live inside his body!" I look over to the boy with a high necked coat and sun glasses. He tips his head to me and I smile kindly back at him. "Over there with Pony Tail is Chouji. The two are best friends. It's hard to see them separate." She scoots closer to me. "Oh, and never call Chouji fat. He will freak out," she whispers in my ear. I nod in understanding. "And you already met Hinata and Ino. So, that's everybody!"

My eyes widen when I see what is clasped in Chouji's hands. "Are those barbeque chips?" I exclaim, putting my ramen on the grass, shooting Naruto a warning glare, and then walking quickly over to the boy.

"Do you like them?" I feel a blush creep up my cheeks as Pony Tail stops his cloud watching and lazily looks over to me. Chouji raises an eyebrow, waiting for my answer.

"I love them! But my okaa-san won't get them because she thinks all chips are too fattening." I sigh, sadly. "Do you think that I might be able to have one? Please?" I sit on my knees with my hands folded in my lap giving him the 'puppy dog' look like Temari taught me.

"Look at that!" Kiba shouts. I look behind me and give him a curious eyebrow. "You got her on her knees, Chouji!" Kiba and the rest of the boys, other than Chouji, who is blushing, begin to laugh like hyenas.

Chouji scratches the back of his head, "Well, if you like them so much…" It becomes silent quicker than the laughter started and I stare pleadingly at Chouji for the answer. "I'll give you one." He fishes through his bag of chips and pulls one out. He holds it out to me. I quickly grab it before he can pull it back or someone else can grab it. I pop it in my mouth and smile.

"You have to tell me where you get these!"

Kiba begins to laugh, "I never knew you could be so funny!"

Naruto leans back and holds his stomach when I turn to look at him. "Neither did I!"

His laugh is truly contagious. I bite my lip, but in no time the pain is not worth not laughing. I laugh along with the boys and when I start snorting it throws everyone into laughter.

For once in my life time, I am not embarrassed by it.

Sakura and I walk the halls towards Seduction class. "I think Naruto might have a thing for you, Hotaru."

I scrunch my face up, wondering what she could mean.

I hear her sigh. "He likes you."

"He's very annoying. And I am not like him, so why in turn would he care for me?" I frown not, understanding. Yes, I know a person can like another, but I love Gaara, whom has so much in common with me.

Sakura seems to ponder this for a moment. She smiles. "Naruto doesn't care about how people are, he just likes making them happy."

"How does that mean he likes me?"

Sakura shakes her head, her smile widening to a wicked grin. "I take back what I said. Kiba likes you."

"Kiba? He's the one that made me fall today! And he's been nothing, but rude to me!" I growl at her, becoming completely furious. How can she think that?

"Hotaru, some boys express their feelings by making fun of the girl they like."

I shake my head. "That makes no sense."

Sakura lets out a laugh. "Guys aren't supposed to make sense, Hotaru."

"Ah! Sakura! Did you bring our new student?" Yūhi-sensei smiles at me. "You must be Hotaru. I am Yūhi Kurenai." She bows.

"Douzo Yoroshiku." I bow back, politely.

Sakura sets herself in the front of the classroom and I sit down next to her, fearing having to deal with a new person. Class begins shortly after.

Not many exciting things happen. Most of the class is spent discussing techniques to make sure you do not get drunk when you are at a bar with a target.

One of the ways was to push the alcohol quickly through your system with chakra. The only problem with that is you have to have an extensive control over your chakra and many girls do not have that.

The second way is to act drunk quickly, so they stop buying you drinks, not that many of them would, but they cannot believe you and then wonder what is wrong with you.

The last way we learn is the fake sip. You place your tongue between your teeth and then act as if you are swallowing. This really only works if the target does not pay attention to your drink.

"Ugh! Next week we have to start learning anatomy," Sakura groans as we both head towards the girls' locker room. I hold onto my bag, with my training clothes in it, that we picked up from my locker and she carries a small bag to replace some tattered clothes.

"Anatomy is not that hard. It's mostly memorizing," I tell her, trying to cheer her up because it seems that this subject has placed a rain cloud above her head.

She sighs. "I know. But, I really don't want to hear Kurenai-sensei talk about male body parts."

"I have to agree with you." My face is scrunched up in a disgusted face as we enter the locker room, making Ino and Hinata look at me with curious gazes.

Ino points a thumb at me over her shoulder. "What's wrong with you guys?"

"We were thinking about Yūhi-sensei talking about male body parts for anatomy next week." Both Hinata and Ino make the same face Sakura and I wore when we entered. Some other girls snicker at the faces, but make no comment.

I open my bag looking for some clothes when Ino gasps, "Hotaru! Do you have anything green?"

I blink at her. "No, why?"

All three girls sigh with relief. "Let's just say you never want to wear green."

"Is it against our school colors?" I wrap the binding tape around my torso like an expert and quickly pull out a fishnet shirt.

"Oh, no, no, it's not that," Sakura tells me as I remember Kankuro admonishing me about school colors.

"If you ever wear red here, people will kick your sorry ass to Konoha and back. So, Hotaru, promise me you will never wear red?"

I had glared at Kankuro before giving in to the demand.

I take out a sleeveless dress. It is black with red trimmings and Yuu in red calligraphy on the back. It is cut on the sides at my hip, so I wear a black pair of shorts. I tie my holster around my hip and place it on my right side, my dominant side. I take a hair band and tie my hair up in a messy bun on the back of my head, letting my bangs fall in front of my eyes.

"Hotaru! Where have you been hiding all of your looks?" Ino looks at me with wide eyes and I feel myself blush.

"I'm not that good looking."

Ino gasps. "Girl! Don't say that! You might even beat me in that department!" she says with some jealousy lacing her words.

I smile reassuringly to her. "I doubt it, but I am a kunoichi, so I have to look the part."

"And damn girl, you look the part!" Ino laughs and pushes me out the gym doors, and I swear to Kami that the whole gym goes silent when they see me.

My cheeks burn and I look over to Ino, who takes the silence in stride. Hinata comes out of the locker room, laughing quietly at something Sakura said, but becomes as quiet as the gym when she notices it is silent too.

"Whoa! Baby!" Someone shouts to my left. I whip my head around and regret that I did. I find Tanzo and his cronies looking me up and down. "Where have you been all my life, you sweet little thang?" he laughs.

I find my eyes narrowing dangerously at him. One of his friends notices this and looks away from me. He reminds me of someone, but I did not get a long enough look at him. "I've been making sure I don't have to look at your sorry excuse for a face," I growl. He raises an eyebrow and I hear the girls laugh. I smirk a little bit in triumph, but it is short lived.

In a blink of an eye, he is a head taller than me looking down. His chest is up against mine sending tingles throughout my body, telling me to run. I gasp when he leans down. His lips are an inch from mine. "You really think that?" I feel his breath on my lips.

I blush and quickly turn away, knowing he's won. "You're going to make a fine kunoichi!"

I continue to walk away until I get over to Naruto and Kiba. "Hotaru, don't worry! He's like that to every girl. He just wants to get you out of your pants."

"Naruto, I am not wearing pants. I have shorts on." I lift up the skirt of my dress and show him.

Kiba sighs, aggravated for some reason. "Hotaru, that's not what he means."

I tilt my head. "Well, what else could he mean?"

"He wants to do you."

My eyebrows scrunch up together. I am utterly confused. "Kiba, I am not getting what you're saying."

"He wants to have sex with you!" Naruto giggles like a school girl. Kiba and I look over to him as if he has gone mad.

"That's what I meant," Kiba grumbles.

I look at the two boys, horrified. "Why would he want to do that? He hardly knows me!" I squeak out.

Kiba covers his face as Naruto laughs out loud.

I look at the two boys even more confused. Why are they laughing? Shouldn't they be as scared as I am? I am their teammate!

"Oh, Hotaru! That is so funny! You can stop acting now!" Naruto bends over while holding one hand to his stomach and the other to his knee.

I narrow my eyes at him. "You think this is a laughing matter?" Naruto stops laughing, but Kiba continues. "I am your teammate and you think that it is alright for me to get raped?"

With a poof of smoke a man appears. He is clad in a horrible green jump suit and a terrible hair cut. I bite my lip to stop from laughing at how ridiculous he looks. "WELL! AREN'T YOU A BEAUTIFUL LASS!"

I gulp, waiting for the giggles to come. The gestures he makes to where the training field is, the drinking fountain, and the medical bay are becoming too much. I look over to Naruto for support, but all I find him doing is whispering and snickering to Kiba.

Then when he makes a huge thumbs up pose in front of me I can't hold the laughter inside of me. It all bursts out and my face turns red with it and embarrassment.

"It's okay, Yuu-san." I turn around to find the administration guy.

I gasp and my eyes widen. "I guess you were right about seeing me again." I blush as he smiles.

"I am Uchiha Itachi." He bows and I return the gesture.

"Douzo Yoroshiku."

He smiles and then turns to the boys. "You should not be betting on things like that. It's very rude to your new teammate." He turns back to me and then lowers his head to my eye level. "Don't worry too much about laughing at Guy-sensei. Everyone eventually has their moment."

I sigh and look down, once again embarrassed at my outburst.

"Do you want us to take our warm up laps now?" Kiba asks, sounding a bit bored.

"Please do. We're doing team bonding after this." Itachi-sensei sighs, almost as if it pains him to say 'team bonding.'

All three of us take off in what begins as all of us running together, but swiftly turns into a race. "I bet I could beat you back to Itachi, Hotaru."

I look over to the blonde boy with a raised eyebrow. "You really think that?"

To make sure his ego is thoroughly bruised, I dash off to Itachi-sensei as fast as I can, only to be beat by Kiba. Naruto catches up to us huffing with sweat on his brow.

"Naruto, are you alright?" Itachi-sensei looks at the exhausted boy.

He holds up a finger, before speaking. "Hotaru, you're fast."

I smile at him and put a hand out for him to grab. "Don't worry, Naruto, it's pretty hard to be faster than I am." I shoot a respectful glance over to Kiba, who puffs his chest out.

Itachi-sensei claps his hand and all three of us take our attention away from each other and to him. "So, we are going to go to the bleachers while everyone else plays hide and seek."

"Hide and seek?" I tilt my head at the other students. Tanzo gives me a wink, making me turn away and look back at Itachi-sensei once again.

"The name explains it, baka." Kiba shoots me a smirk and I furrow my brows.

"Kiba, that isn't being nice to your teammate," Naruto calls. I don't pay attention to him and glare at Kiba.

I cross my arms in front of me. "You don't need to be rude to me."

Kiba takes a step towards me and towers over me. "I'm sorry for feeling that you need to stop pulling this stupid act on us and get on with life!"

"Stupid act?" I screech, appalled by what he is accusing me of. Everyone's eyes shift from Guy-sensei to the pair of us, "I am one of the most intelligent people in this room! Why would I ever pull a stupid act?"

Kiba's hairs start to stand on end and his nails grow longer and sharper. He lets out a snarl. "Well, you are the new kid. You're the one wearing your school uniform all form fitted and shit! Look at you now! You're fucking sexy as hell in that! All you could talk about on the walk to school, all you were doing was trying to take the attention off of you! All you really want is attention!"

"How dare you!" I lunge at his neck, without thinking. He kicks me off and I skid across the floor reaching for a kunai. He comes at me with one in his hand too. I sprint forward to him at top speed, but flip over and throw the kunai at his foot, catching his shoe. He gets aggravated and throws his kunai at me. I dodge easily and sprint towards him with anger tinting the edge of my vision. I flip him on his back, taking the kunai out of his shoe with one fluid movement. I shove the kunai onto his throat, almost drawing blood. His eyes are little slits and his canine teeth long. He tries to move but I put the kunai closer to his throat, drawing a little blood. "NEVER! I mean never insult me like that ever again!" I glare at him with the kunai to his throat ready to kill him if he even breathes a word, but Naruto comes and pulls me off of him. I fight against Naruto, but he's just that much stronger to keep me in place.

Kiba stands up, wiping dirt off of him. He rubs his arm under his neck to get the blood. "I will never submit to a girl like you!"

I glare at him, opening my mouth ready to spring on him once again. "Hotaru, it isn't worth it," Naruto whispers, gripping my shoulders. I give up with a sigh and expel all my anger into that. Naruto leads me over to the bleachers where Itachi-sensei watched the whole thing.

"You know, Hotaru, The Third could deport you if you attack a fellow teammate." I look up at him with wide eyes, hoping it isn't true, but his stern gaze only makes it concrete.

I look down, ashamed of my behavior. I let myself glance over to Kiba to find him still seething with anger. I try to not let it frighten me as I listen to the game we must play for Itachi-sensei, something to do with falling into each other's arms to show that we trust each other.

I fall onto the gym floor for the fifth time. I stare up to see Kiba's smirking face, looking down at me. I don't even take the energy to glare at him.

Naruto had caught me. Kiba had caught Naruto. Why can't Kiba catch me? Is it that hard?

"Awe, did the smart one hurt her head?" he jabs, ignoring Itachi-sensei's sigh and command to do it again.

I stand up in a swift movement and sigh. "Why do you think making comments like that will do anything? Naruto and I are stuck here in the gym doing this extremely boring exercise, along with you of course, until you decide to catch me when I fall." It takes so much effort to make sure I keep my voice even. Kiba seems to get some sort of entertainment out my anger.

Naruto looks impatiently over to Kiba. "I am so hungry right now. I want ramen now, believe it!"

"Naruto, you're always hungry," Kiba deadpans. He looks over to me, smiling. "Fine, I'll catch you when you fall."

I watch him, carefully, not quite getting why he said that in the way he did. It was almost like he meant more than catching me when I'm falling here. I shake my head and rid my mind of those thoughts. I look over my shoulder at him. I find for once that his lips hold a sincere smile and not a cocky one. I turn back frontwards and suck in a breath.

I lean back, letting gravity take me. Instead of feeling the hard wood floor of the gym crack my skull, I feel warm forearms under my arm pits. When I look up, I see Kiba's hair in his face looking down at me. His cheeks are flush for some reason. I find my mouth is slightly agape and my eyes open wide.

We stay like this until we hear snickering. We both look over to see Naruto covering his mouth with an odd expression on and Itachi-sensei smirking.

Kiba swiftly drops me, but this time I am ready and I catch myself. "Kiba!"

"Sorry," he mumbles, looking away from me.

The bell rings. "Oh, look at the time! Looks like you guys need to leave now!" Itachi smiles and waves us off. I tilt my head, wondering why he wants to leave so quickly. When Guy-sensei enters the room once more I figure it out.

"Oh. My. Kami. Hotaru!" Ino screeches when she walks into the locker room, along with Sakura and Hinata.

I blink, astonished at the volume of her voice. "What? Did I do something wrong today?"

"What? No! Of course not! I can't believe you actually stood up to Kiba!"

"It wasn't that hard to do."

Sakura waves her hand around in front of my face, making me blink and pull away. "That is not the point, Hotaru! No one has ever stood up to him before! Not that he's really a bad person, but because he's so scary! You know, with all the Inuzuka in him!"

I shrug. "I've dealt with scarier people before." I smile, thinking of Gaara.

I did not know I could ever miss those siblings so much.

"And I heard Shibire talked to you! He is like the hottest guy in school! Hotaru? Hotaru, are you even listening to me?"

Before I can answer, Sakura puts her two cents in. "Ino-pig, why would she listen to you? All you ever do is ramble on and on about gossip."

"How could you say that? Forehead!"

"Pig!"

"Billboard brow!"

As they continue to fight Hinata and I guide them to my locker, so I can retrieve my books. "Do they always argue?"

"Y-yes." She gives me a weak smile and we continue on.

"Oi! Look who it is! Hotaru!" Naruto waves from his group, the same as in the morning.

I give Hinata one last sympathetic look before scurrying over to the boys. "Hey."

"Hotaru! I can't believe you attacked Kiba! It was so cool how fast you moved and everything!"

I look down embarrassed. "I'm sorry that I did that. I have a very big temper sometimes. It got me into a lot of trouble back in Suna."

"Really? I would have never imagined that!" Kiba rolls his eyes.

I frown. "How can you say that? I yelled and screamed at-"

"I was being sarcastic, baka," Kiba interrupts, rolling his eyes once more.

I huff, not saying anything. Though, Naruto continues on to blabber about how cool I looked and that he wish he could move as fast at me.

Soon enough, I find myself alone with Naruto. To my surprise, I don't find his animated speech that annoying. It does remind me a little of Ino, but Naruto is more about ninja things than Ino.

"You two looked like animals or something! Your hair was spread out like a fire and his was all spiky and it was just awesome! Believe it!"

I giggle. "Why do you always say 'believe it?'"

He shrugs. "It adds truth to what I'm saying, that's why!" he laughs. "I'll see you tomorrow at school, Hotaru!" he waves from his apartment door.

"Tomorrow, then!" I smile at him, climbing the one flight of stairs to my apartment.

I turn the key, opening the door before shouting, "Mother! I am home!" I smell her paints. "Please tell me you have not been painting in the nude once again!"

I drop my backpack in my room before walking over to the kitchen's bar. I sit on one of the stools looking at the extra bedroom's, now painting room, door. I sigh before I open the door to find her passed out on the floor with a sake bottle only inches from her grasp. "Thank Kami, she isn't nude," I whisper to myself.

I leave her there, knowing full well that I do not want to be around when she wakes up, to go and cook some dinner. I chop chicken, slice seaweed, and make my version of a miso soup with the ingredients I previously prepared. Mother hates tofu with a passion, so I just put chicken in it to keep her happy.

"I wanna eat my soup!" my mom yells, drunkenly, from the paint room. I sigh.

"It's on the bar." I walk into my bedroom, having finished my soup in seconds of it cooling.

I start and finish my homework in a matter of an hour and a half. I guess here in Konoha, the work load is a lot less on the students, not that I am complaining. I will not miss the many nights that I had to stay up way passed the time I usually go to sleep just to complete an assignment.

I lift my window up with a grunt and jump out into the night air. I believe that the night air is so much crisper than its counterpart's because the sun is not out to make it so deathly hot. Though, some nights do get like that even without the sun.

I sit and look at the starry sky wondering how I am going to survive school still, though you really can't tell on the first day. Oh, and about the guys. Since Suna was so small, there was not many men to choose from, but here there is a good looking guy everywhere you turn! Maybe, one will be unlucky enough to fall into my web.

Alright 'til next month!